May-Bowles's sentence was reduced following his appeal at Southwark Crown Court today, with Judge Anthony Pitts saying that not enough credit had been given for his guilty plea by the original district judge Daphne Wickham.

Last month, members of the House of Commons voted against recalling Rupert's son James - chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, Europe and Asia - to the committee but will write to him asking for clarification on certain statements.